Cold Sores-Fever Blisters
- Medical Name- Herpes labialis
- means infection of the lip, mouth, or gums
- dormant virus
- means infection of the lip, mouth, or gums
- Also called HSV-1
- which stands for the Herpes Simplex Virus
- Basic facts
- Most sufferers experience 1 to 3 attacks annually
- severity and frequency decreases over time
- dental or neural surgery, lip tattooing, or dermabrasion are common triggers
- Avoid touching outbreak sight, avoid kissing oral sex, and contact sports
- sore throat and fever occur before outbreak
- More than 50 million adults suffer from symptoms
- Most people in U.S. infected by age 20
- Skin Lesions: rash around lips, mouth, or gum
- Possible Complications
- recurrence
- spread to other skin areas
- bacterial infection
- blindness
- trouble swallowing
- Should see doctor when:
- doesn't go away after 2-3 weeks
- cold sores near your eyes
- Tests and Treatments
- May show enlarged lymph nodes in neck
- viral culture, viral DNA test, or Tzanck Test of skin lesions may show HSV-1
- Docosanol, acyclovir, penciclovir, famciclovir, and valacicovir are common treatments
